I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 490

Kooooooo-!

Imperial flagship, Alcatraz. Inside the ship.

Finally, the view of Crossroads came into sight, and looking down at the monster standing there, I gritted my teeth.

“…A complete Gorgon, I see.”

The final phase of the Gorgon sisters.

The last one, having devoured the fallen two, transforms into a complete Gorgon.

This entity is a boss monster with tremendous specs, possessing the strength of Stheno, the flight ability of Euryale, and the magical power of Medusa.

‘If I had been here from the start, I could have used a trick to eliminate it before it became complete…’

It’s a meaningless assumption.

I left for the Imperial City, and in the meantime, these monsters invaded, and the city was horribly destroyed in many places.

But… it’s not all despairing results.

‘The city walls are intact.’

It seems Lucas quickly gave up fighting around the walls and let them into the city. Thanks to that, the walls are safe.

Since the minimum function as a fortress is preserved, the foundation for carrying out the defense battle afterward is maintained.

‘Above all, there are few casualties.’

The fallen manpower is concentrated on the hero characters.

This is because Lucas excluded not only the citizens but also the ordinary soldiers from the front line.

It was the right decision.

The petrifying gaze used by the Gorgon sisters is a wide-area attack, so if caught in the range, ordinary soldiers would have no choice but to fall like dominoes.

‘In the worst case, all the ordinary soldiers could have been sacrificed, and the walls could have collapsed, piercing the southern front.’

They managed to prevent that with this level of damage.

I bit my lip, looking at my petrified comrades.

‘Wait for me, guys. I’ll save you soon.’

Of course, before saving the kids, I have to kill that damn monster first!

The complete Gorgon – Medusa – seemed visibly flustered by our appearance.

‘How dare you wreak havoc in my city… I’ll tear you to pieces!’

Determined, I shouted to the Emperor sitting in the cockpit.

“We’re almost at our destination, Father! Please hold on a little longer!”

“…Ash.”

My father was driving the airship with a haggard look.

Empty magic potions were rolling around on the table next to the cockpit, and he was drinking another new magic potion with a straw.

It was like a worker who had been suffering from overtime for days, surviving on an Americano [a type of coffee] doping.

Somehow, my heart ached, and I was moved to tears.

“Your Majesty’s dedication to protecting the soldiers and citizens of the southern front, no! All lives on this front… it is truly an example of a ruler! I am moved!”

“Cut the crap. This father is dying here…”

From the time we set sail from the Imperial City to reach this place, the Emperor had not been able to rest for a single moment.

To be precise, I didn’t let him rest. When my father asked if we could land for a moment and close his eyes, I massaged his shoulders with fiery filial piety to chase away his sleep.

I forced him to drink magic potions, and when he still looked tired, I whispered softly in his ear.

– If you stop now, I will give up my claim to the throne.

– What the hell are you saying, you crazy bastard…?!?

I don’t know why he was so upset that I was giving up the throne, but anyway, after I told him that, my father suddenly became full of energy and focused on driving.

Thus – the Alcatraz, which succeeded in descending south from the Imperial City to Crossroads at the fastest speed in history, is now drawing a gentle landing trajectory toward Crossroads.

I put my hands together and prayed to the Emperor, who was suffering with tired eyes.

“We’re here, Father! Now, if you just land near Crossroads-”

That’s when it happened.

《Kyaaaaaaak-!》

The monster’s sharp roar echoed.

Immediately after, Medusa jumped into the air and blocked the airship’s path. At the same time,

Kiiiiiiing!

The monster’s eyes emitted a gruesome yellow magical light.

Originally, the view from the Alcatraz cockpit was not a structure that directly looked outside, but a state-of-the-art magical engineering system that displayed images projected by magic panels installed outside on an internal screen.

So, the petrification effect did not reach the cockpit. But the outer armor of the airship was not.

Kwadudududuk!

The Alcatraz vibrated violently.

As Medusa, facing the airship, wildly fired her petrifying gaze, the protective armor attached to the outer walls of the Alcatraz began to harden all at once.

Then, the sleepiness completely disappeared from the Emperor’s face – instead, deep anger took its place.

“Is that bastard out of his mind?”

The Emperor frantically touched the devices in the cockpit, and he suddenly flipped a device that looked like a gear forward.

Tu-hak-!

The thrusters at the rear of the airship suddenly increased their output.

“…Father?”

Cold sweat ran down my spine. What are you doing now…?

The Emperor’s profile was completely pissed off.

Road Rage.

He had fallen into a driver-only state of anger, like ‘Why the hell are you driving like that?’!

“Just a monster… not only daring to block the airship that I’m driving,”

The Emperor pressed the control handle in his hand forward.

“But even put a scratch on it-?!”

Kwaaaaaaa-!

The Alcatraz began to accelerate and started to nosedive toward the ground. What the hell is he doing?!

“No, wait a minute, Father! Are you going to crash into it?”

“I have to show those guys who’s boss!”

“Get a grip! This is the Imperial flagship! Are you going to use this expensive thing as a battering ram?”

“It’s always the most thrilling when you ram an expensive ship!”

No, Kellybay too, why are all the airship pilots like this?!?

Kiiing! Kiiiiiiing!

Medusa relentlessly fired her petrifying gaze,

Tung! Tudududung!

The Alcatraz continued its rush, generously separating the petrified outer wall armor.

It was a method of purging only the petrified armor first, before the petrification energy spread throughout the airship.

The outer armor was damaged, but thanks to that, the airship itself could continue to operate without being eroded by petrification.

Medusa and the Alcatraz quickly got closer. And,

《…Kuh?!》

In the end, it was Medusa who dodged first.

No matter how much Medusa is a monster from the mythical era, the Alcatraz is also the strongest flagship of the Empire, plastered with ancient magic that is hundreds of years old.

In the end, if it comes down to a body slam, this side is overwhelmingly superior in a pure mass fight. It was a situation where Medusa had no choice but to dodge.

As Medusa barely escaped the Alcatraz’s path, the Emperor grinned, revealing his teeth.

“Ha! Running away without even showing your tail! Who told you to challenge me, you coward!”

“No, don’t be happy that you won the chicken race! Landing! What about landing!”

The ground quickly got closer. I covered my eyes and screamed, and the Emperor sat me on the chair, fastened my seatbelt, and then,

“Huuup!”

He raised his hand up.

Then, the pattern engraved on the back of the Emperor’s hand flashed, and he began to directly control the massive body of the Alcatraz.

The Alcatraz reversed the flames from the thrusters installed on the front and bottom, and instantly reduced its speed-

Kugugugugung…!

…It barely crash-landed, scraping the ground.

It was fortunate that he managed to change the course somehow and landed on the southern plains instead of inside Crossroads.

Cheeeeeek-

In this place where hazy dust and sand clouds were swirling, the Alcatraz slowly opened the hatch at the rear.

The Emperor pointed to the opening door with his hand and gestured to me.

“Landing successful. We’re here, son.”

“…Thank you very much, Father.”

I almost died from the last sudden acceleration. But thanks to that, I managed to get here without being too late. I sincerely thanked the Emperor.

“I’m completely drained now.”

The Emperor tilted the back of the cockpit seat back, took out a sleeping eye mask from his pocket, and put it on his eyes.

“I’m going to sleep. Take care of the rest.”

Then he slumped and fell asleep in a few seconds……

‘He must be tired.’

To keep this huge airship running without maintenance, the Emperor poured all of his own magic power into it. It wouldn’t be strange if he had passed out earlier.

“As much as you’ve worked hard, I will take responsibility for the defense of Crossroads.”

I unfastened my seatbelt and staggered out of the cockpit.

Then, I saw my elite heroes sitting in the passenger seats, their faces pale as if they were all seasick.

“Everyone must be feeling sick, but all the comrades left in Crossroads are in a life-threatening situation. Every minute and every second is urgent. There is no time to reorganize.”

At those words, the faces of the heroes, who had been out of it, hardened coldly.

The fate of their comrades and the city was at stake.

Seasickness was something they had to grit their teeth and endure now.

“The tactics for dealing with Medusa are the same as I told you on the way here.”

There was no need to review or re-emphasize the plan.

They are the best of the best. If I say one thing, they understand ten, and if I instruct ten, they carry out a hundred.

They are trustworthy.

I nodded and shouted.

“Let’s start the operation. Let’s go!”

***

Thud…!

Medusa, who had flown across the sky, landed in front of the airship.

I and my heroes, who had already descended outside through the airship’s hatch, were ready for battle.

Medusa licked her lips, glaring at us.

《A rather late reinforcement, human.》

“It’s the opposite, monster.”

I grinned.

“This is the fastest time. I know very well that it’s better to move even a little bit than to regret being late.”

《You’re quite optimistic.》

“A leader’s job is to give hope, you know.”

I shrugged my shoulders and pointed my hand forward.

“It’s also a position to present solutions… and that’s it!”

There are dozens of tactics to attack Medusa, but in the end, the condition boils down to one thing.

– How to seal the petrifying gaze?

The petrifying gaze is not usually an easy gimmick. It has two main effects:

1. Basically, you are petrified just by making eye contact,

2. Even when not making eye contact, if the Gorgon focuses magic power on its vision, it can forcibly petrify the opponent.

So, usually, a mirror shield is forced into the attack.

However, it is often difficult because you have to look at the opponent through the mirror, and many heroes are not familiar with shield operation.

Using a mirror shield itself acts as a kind of demerit.

And I had prepared a way to attack the petrifying gaze in advance, in a direction that did not use a mirror shield.

“Hannibal!”

“Yes!”

When I called, Hannibal and the five spirit mage party ran out all at once.

Even if these spirit mage parties do not engage in direct combat, they can give various useful effects to allies by temporarily imbuing them with spirits.

In short, they can be used as dedicated buffers.

And the spirit enchant I asked them for was…

“Gnome!”

The spirit of earth and rock, Gnome!

Although the duration is limited, the petrification effect is absorbed to some extent while the spirit is enchanted.

The degree of eye contact no longer matters.

Hannibal and the spirit mages imbued me and the heroes with spirits.

With this, gimmick number 1 is cleared. The heroes are free to face Medusa.

Now, the remaining problem is number 2, the direct petrification that Medusa inflicts…

《You think you can block my eyes with such low-level spirits-!》

Enraged, Medusa roared and flashed her gaze. Yellow magical light scattered and was ready to be fired at us.

“What’s so great about your gaze that you’re showing off?”

I stepped forward and shouted, planting a black flag with nothing drawn on it on the ground.

“Here on the front line… I’ll block not only your eyes but everything!”

Hwaaaaaak-!

Gray magic poured out, and immediately after, my ultimate skill [The Foremost Flag] was activated, forming a fortress.

Not on my side, but right in front of Medusa!

Kugugugugung!

My magical wall, formed to block the monster’s path, blocked Medusa’s vision.

Medusa’s gaze could not spread in all directions, and after petrifying only the wall, it finished its activation.

Medusa clicked her tongue in annoyance and opened her mouth wide to emit sound waves.

《This is nothing!》

Kugung! Kwagwagwang!

The wall collapsed in an instant.

But in the meantime, the next wall had already risen around her.

《…?!》

Kugung! Kugugugung!

Walls were stacked around Medusa in succession.

My ultimate skill proficiency was already considerable. It was possible to create walls in the shape I wanted, at the point I wanted.

“Let’s have a showdown, monster.”

In front of the dumbfounded monster, wielding the power of ‘wall creation,’ the strongest authority in defense games… I declared.

“Let’s see if you’re faster at staring at us, or if I’m faster at blocking your eyes!”

Taat-!

At the same time, the heroes around me ran forward.

Now that the wall is blocking the petrifying gaze, to approach the monster…!